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<br />EXTERIOR SIGNAGE FABRICATION SPECIFICATIONS
<br />C. Equal or better equipment or method may be recommended, but
<br />fabricator will be required to provide full documentation, upon
<br />request, establishing such a substitution’s equality or superiority
<br />as measured in compliance with the visual design intent, cost,
<br />ease of maintenance, and performance.
<br />D. The Owner’s Representative and Designer’s decision of approval
<br />or disapproval of a proposed substitution shall be fi nal.
<br />2.4 FABRICATION
<br />A. Details on Design Intent Drawings indicate a design approach for
<br />sign structure but do not include all fabrication details required
<br />for the complete structural integrity of the signs, including
<br />consideration for static, dynamic and erection loads during
<br />handling, erecting, and service at the installed locations.
<br />B. General:
<br />1. It is intended that the workmanship be of the highest quality
<br />obtainable by the respective trades and crafts experienced
<br />in the fabrication of architectural signs.
<br />2. Fabricate signage such that major components of the sign
<br />can be removed and replaced with similar components.
<br />Incorporate this changeability such that it does not promote
<br />vandalism but can be done by a qualifi ed maintenance crew.
<br />3. Within fabrication tolerances, allow for expansion and
<br />contraction of materials due to temperature changes as
<br />appropriate to the project location.
<br />C. Fonts/Typefaces:
<br />1. All tactile and braille characters must meet current ADA
<br />code requirements.
<br />2. Letter height/cap height is based upon the height of the
<br />capital letter “E” or any capital character that has a fl at top
<br />and base.
<br />3. Under no circumstances are typefaces to be electronically
<br />distorted (“squeezed” or “extended”) for purposes of fi tting
<br />to the specifi ed sign. This includes (but is not limited to)
<br />stretching, squeezing, tilting, outlining, or shadowing.
<br />4. Ligatures are to be turned off.
<br />5. Apostrophes and quotation marks are to be used, not
<br />footmarks and inches. Note there is a difference in
<br />most fonts.
<br />6. Fabricator to reference spacing and layout examples within
<br />the Design Intent Drawing package.
<br />7. Fabricator is responsible for correcting any typesetting errors
<br />that may be necessary.
<br />D. Sign Faces:
<br />1. Sign faces to be fabricated using aluminum of varying
<br />thicknesses, as specifi ed on Design Intent Drawings, with a
<br />minimum thickness of .125" unless otherwise noted.
<br />2. Any sign faces smaller than 8' by 20' are to be fabricated
<br />from 1 piece of seamless material.
<br />3. Any sign faces larger than 8' by 20' are to follow Welded
<br />Joint specifi cations. Joints must be fi lled and ground
<br />smooth so there is no visible seam.
<br />4. Non-illuminated sign faces are to have lettering and
<br />graphics created as surface-applied vinyl typography unless
<br />otherwise noted in the Design Intent Drawings.
<br />5. Acrylic faces are to be of suffi cient thickness to preclude
<br />bowing or distortion within frames.
<br />E. Push-through copy:
<br />1. Routed push-through copy from a single sheet of acrylic.
<br />Letters and shapes that are routed out and bonded to a
<br />separate acrylic sheet are not acceptable.
<br />2. Exposed acrylic edges are to be fi nished such that no saw
<br />marks are visible.
<br />3. Acrylic to have a minimum thickness of 3/8".
<br />4. Acrylic to be pushed through fl ush evenly to 3/32" unless
<br />otherwise noted on design drawing.
<br />5. Acrylic is to be attached to the interior of the sign using
<br />mechanical fasteners and silicon.
<br />6. All letter knock-outs (interior of letter forms) are to be stud
<br />mounted through the acrylic.
<br />7. Acceptable spacing between the push-through acrylic and
<br />the cutout aluminum is 1/32" for copy 12" or smaller. Copy
<br />larger than 12" may have alternate spacing to allow for the
<br />change in material expansion.
<br />8. The edges and corners of routed letterforms shall be sharp
<br />and true. Letterforms with nicked, cut, ragged, rounded
<br />(positive or negative) corners, and similar disfi gurements will
<br />not be acceptable.
<br />F. Fasteners:
<br />1. Conceal all fasteners except for access panels or where
<br />approved otherwise by Owner’s Representative and
<br />Designer. Access panel fasteners are to be stainless steel,
<br />tamper resistant, counter-sunk fl ush screws, painted to
<br />match adjacent fi nish.
<br />2. All hardware and fasteners within reach shall be
<br />vandal resistant.
<br />3. To prevent electrolysis, separate all ferrous and non-ferrous
<br />materials with a non-conductive gasket or barrier and utilize
<br />stainless steel fasteners as required.
<br />4. Pop rivets are not acceptable on the exterior of the
<br />sign cabinet.
<br />G. Welded joints:
<br />1. Exposed welded joints must be fi lled and ground smooth so
<br />there is no seam visible when painted.
<br />2. Dimensional and structural welding defects will not be
<br />accepted, including but not limited to: poor weld contours,
<br />including excessive bead convexity and reinforcement,
<br />and considerable concavity or undersized welds; cracks;
<br />undercutting; porosity; incomplete fusion; inadequate
<br />penetration; spatter; and non-metallic inclusions.
<br />3. Welding is to be performed by AWS (or similar) certifi ed
<br />personnel, following AWS Standard Welding Procedure
<br />Specifi cations (SWPSs) for steel, aluminum, and stainless
<br />steel as appropriate.
<br />H. Non-welded joints:
<br />1. Signs must have a tight, hairline-type appearance, without
<br />gaps. Provide suffi cient fastenings to preclude looseness,
<br />racking, or similar movement.
<br />2. Visible metal joints must adhere to a fi t tolerance of .01".
<br />I. Channel letters:
<br />1. Raceways are not acceptable unless specifi cally noted on
<br />the Design Intent Drawing or if approved by the Owner.
<br />a. Approved raceways must be painted the same color as
<br />the wall on which the raceway will be mounted.
<br />2. Acrylic must fi t snuggly into the letter return.
<br />3. Returns on Channel letters two feet or greater in height shall
<br />be fabricated with a minimum of .080" thick aluminum.
<br />4. Returns on Channel letters under two feet in height shall be
<br />a minimum of .063" aluminum.
<br />5. Jewel trim is not acceptable, unless specifi cally called out in
<br />the Design Intent Drawings.
<br />6. Non-illuminated Channel Letters:
<br />a. Non-illuminated faces must be a minimum of .125"
<br />thick aluminum.
<br />7. Illuminated Channel Letters:
<br />a. Face-lit channel letter backers must be a minimum
<br />of .080" thick aluminum or greater as required
<br />by engineering.
<br />b. Face-lit channel letters mounted on the fi rst or second
<br />story of a building shall be trimless.
<br />c. Face-lit channel letters installed on the third fl oor or
<br />higher of a building may use a low-profi le trim cap.
<br />8. Low profi le Illuminated Channel Letters:
<br />a. Letters fabricated out of white translucent acrylic
<br />(usually 30 to 40mm thick) with a routed cavity
<br />in the back of each letter for LED's illumination
<br />to be installed. These letters typically have an
<br />aluminum backer.
<br />b. Letters may be face, side, or back-lit or any
<br />combination of the three based upon the Design
<br />Intent Drawings.
<br />c. Letters must be evenly illuminated throughout the
<br />acrylic without hotspots or shadows.
<br />J. Drain holes:
<br />1. Provide drain holes as needed to prevent accumulation of
<br />water within signs.
<br />2. Holes must be inconspicuous and located such that
<br />drainage does not occur onto signs, bases, or other surfaces
<br />subject to staining.
<br />3. Provide internal system of baffl es to prevent “light leaks”
<br />through drain holes of illuminated signs.
<br />4. Use color-coordinated stainless steel bug mesh screen over
<br />drain holes or vents.
<br />K. Painting:
<br />1. Sign panels shall be appropriately pre-drilled/pre-cut before
<br />priming and painting or coating.
<br />2. Metal surfaces are to be painted per the most recent
<br />Matthews Paint or Akzo Nobel product bulletins.
<br />3. Paint preparation of all metal surfaces of the sign to include
<br />removal of all scratches and imperfections, sanding and
<br />chemical etching.
<br />4. Substrate cleaning, preparation, paint application and paint
<br />thickness to be in strict compliance with Matthews Paint
<br />or Akzo Nobel published recommendations and product
<br />bulletins.
<br />5. Aluminum and Steel surfaces to be properly covered with
<br />a primer.
<br />6. Acceleration of the drying process and use of accelerants are
<br />not allowed.
<br />7. All paint and powder coat fi nishes to be a satin fi nish unless
<br />otherwise noted in the Design Intent Drawings.
<br />8. All painted surfaces to have a clearcoat fi nish to add UV
<br />protection and protection from the elements.
<br />9. Finished work shall be uniform, crisp, accurate, visibly
<br />free from fl ow lines, streaks, bleeding, blisters, cracking,
<br />peeling or other imperfections, without over spray, or
<br />rounded corners.
<br />10. Mask & Spray: All masking shall be executed with a digitally
<br />cut vinyl mask which has an adhesive specifi cally designed
<br />for clean removal when promptly removed after painting
<br />and curing cycles.
<br />a. No hand-cut masks shall be used.
<br />b. Finished edges of masked graphics or copy shall be
<br />true, clean, and visibly free from overspray.
<br />L. Clear Coat:
<br />1. A compatible protective UV/ Anti-Graffi ti Clearcoat shall be
<br />applied to all painted surfaces. Fabricator to verify all product
<br />warranties and compatibility with applied to surfaces.
<br />M. Silk-screen, digital printing, and vinyl copy:
<br />1. All letterforms, symbols or graphics shall be reproduced
<br />either by photographic or computer-generated means.
<br />2. Cutting shall be done such that edges and corners of
<br />fi nished letterforms will be straight, sharp and true.
<br />3. Letterforms with nicked, cut, ragged, rounded corners, and
<br />similar disfi gurements will not be acceptable.
<br />4. Copy is to match the sheen of the copy panel background
<br />(satin).
<br />5. Surface of graphics shall be uniform in color fi nish, and free
<br />from striping, pinholes, and other imperfections.
<br />6. Images shall be uniform in color and ink thickness.
<br />7. Use only weather-resistant coating materials that are
<br />compatible with substrates.
<br />8. Silk-screened images shall be executed with photo-
<br />processed screens prepared from original electronic art.
<br />9. Silk-screening shall be highest quality, with sharp lines and
<br />no sawtooths or uneven ink coverage.
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